Heat sink module and an arrangment of heat sink modules

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a plate-like heat sink module ( 1 ) with polygonal ground plan at whose upper side a heat generating component ( 2 ) can be secured and whose underside comprises cooling ribs ( 3 ), the outside edges thereof comprising surface structures complementary with one another and with whose assistance a plurality of identical heat sink modules ( 1 ) can be joined in one plane, whereby the surface structures are fashioned such that a heat sink module ( 1 ) can be joined to another heat sink module ( 1 ) in only one orientation. The invention is also directed to an arrangement of heat sink modules. As a result of the inventive arrangement of heat sink modules, a heat sink for the interconnection of a plurality of capacitors to form a capacitor bank can be produced in an especially flexible way.

[0001] The invention is directed to a heat sink module at whose upper side a heat-generating component can be secured and whose underside comprises cooling ribs. The invention is also directed to an arrangement of heat sink modules.

[0002] Heat sink modules of the species initially cited are known, these being utilized as cooling plates for cooling high-power capacitors in frequency converters. A plurality of identical capacitors interconnected to form a capacitor bank are arranged on these heat sink modules. These capacitor banks are employed in frequency converters having different nominal voltages and power classes. Corresponding to these different characteristics of the frequency converters, a different plurality of capacitors are [sic] also required in various interconnection, for example in series or parallel or mixed in series and parallel as well. A separate cooling plate with the suitable geometrical dimensions on which the capacitors are then secured is therefore produced for each version of the frequency converter in conformity with the plurality and interconnection of the capacitors. The known heat sink modules therefore have the disadvantage that they must be respectively separately produced for each type of frequency converter, this denoting a high production outlay.

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to offer a heat sink module that can be employed for cooling different versions of capacitor banks without having to modify its embodiment.

[0004] This object is inventively achieved by means of a heat sink module according to claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention and arrangements of heat sink modules can be derived from the other claims.

[0005] The invention specifies a heat sink module that is plate-like and comprises a polygonal ground plan. A heat generating component can be secured on the upper side of the heat sink module. At its underside, the heat sink module comprises cooling ribs that effect an especially efficient cooling of the heat generating component. The outside edges of the heat sink module comprise surface structures that are complementary to one another. For example, these surface structures can be formed by a succession of elevations and depressions. A plurality of identical heat sink modules can be joined in one plane with the assistance of the complementary surface structures. The surface structure of the heat sink modules are fashioned such that a heat sink module can be joined to a further heat sink module in only one orientation. An arrangement of heat sink modules of flexible size and shape can be formed by joining a plurality of inventive heat sink modules. Further, the inventive heat sink module has the advantage that a defined orientation of the heat generating component with respect to the heat sink module can be set by means of the fashioning of the surface structure, said orientation being then capable of being transferred onto the arrangement of a plurality of heat generating components relative to one another as a result of the joining of a plurality of heat sink modules. This, for example, has the advantage that a plurality of identically oriented components can be contacted in an especially easy way.

[0006] Further, a heat sink module is especially advantageous that inventively comprises a quadratic ground plan and that can be joined to identical heat sink modules in checkerboard fashion. Such a heat sink module with quadratic ground plan is very easy to manufacture. Further, a heat sink module with a quadratic ground plan has the advantage that it can be joined in checkerboard fashion to further heat sink modules, as a result whereof an arrangement of heat sink modules derives that comprises smooth outside walls and a compact, for example rectangular, outside contour.

[0007] The surface structures of the heat sink module can be inventively formed by projections and recesses complementary thereto. For example, the recesses can thereby be realized by blind holes proceeding in the plane and the projections can be realized with round pegs. Such a heat sink module has the advantage that the recesses and projections can be produced relatively simply with standard machine tools. Further, such a heat sink module has the advantage that it can be plugged to a further heat sink module, as a result whereof a mechanical strength transverse to the plane derives for the arrangement of heat sink modules formed therefrom.

[0008] Another advantageous embodiment of the recesses is comprised in implementing the recesses as channels and the projections as springs fitting into the channels. As a result thereof, it is possible to produce a mechanical contact over the entire length of the outside edge comprising the channel or, respectively, the spring, an especially high stability of the arrangement of heat sink modules formed therefrom thus deriving.

[0009] Further, it is especially advantageous to inventively implement the projections of the heat sink module as dovetail-like springs. Such dovetail-like springs can be pushed in a direction into a recess mating therewith, as a result whereof a mechanical hold results in all directions proceeding perpendicular to this direction. In particular, the heat sink modules joined in this way can no longer be simply pulled apart, improved cohesion resulting therefrom.

[0010] Further, a heat sink module is especially advantageous wherein the upper side thereof comprises a depression that accepts the component. An especially simple, fast and reliable fastening of the component is possible with the assistance of such a depression. It particularly comes into consideration to glue the component in the depression.

[0011] When the component comprising an electrically conductive envelope and the heat sink module is also composed of an electrically conductive material, it is especially advantageous to implement the gluing between the component and the heat sink module in electrically insulating fashion in order to prevent a short between the components.

[0012] Further, a heat sink module is especially advantageous when an electrolytic capacitor is secured to its upper side. Such heat sink modules can, for example, be employed for cooling capacitor banks in frequency converters of different power classes.

[0013] The invention also specifies an arrangement of heat sink modules wherein the same component is secured on each heat sink module, whereby the components comprise terminal elements. Each component has its terminal elements aligned identically relative to the surface structure of the respective heat sink. The heat sink modules are joined to one another, forming a continuous plate. Due to the inventive arrangement of heat sink modules with identical components comprising terminal elements, the orientation of the individual components relative to the heat sink modules that carry them can be transferred onto the capacitor bank formed by the arrangement of identical heat sink modules. This has the advantage that the individual components can be contacted in a very simple and rational way.

[0014] Further, an arrangement of heat sink modules is especially advantageous wherein the heat sink modules are held together by a frame. Such an arrangement of heat sink modules has the advantage of an enhanced mechanical stability.

[0015] The invention is explained in greater detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments and the Figures pertaining thereto.

[0016]FIG. 1 shows a side view of an inventive heat sink module with an electrolytic capacitor secured thereon.

[0017]FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an inventive heat sink module that is provided with blind holes and round pegs.

[0018]FIG. 3A shows a first side view of an inventive heat sink module that is provided with channels and springs.

[0019]FIG. 3B shows the heat sink module of FIG. 3A in a second side view.

[0020]FIG. 3C shows the heat sink module of FIG. 3A in a plan view.

[0021]FIG. 4 shows an inventive arrangement of heat sink modules in a plan view.

[0022]FIG. 1 shows an inventive heat sink module 1 at whose underside cooling ribs 3 are arranged. A depression 6 in which a component 2 fashioned as an electrolytic capacitor is arranged is located on the upper side of the heat sink module. The component 2 comprises a first terminal element 7 and a second terminal element 8 that represent the cathode or, respectively, the anode given an electrolytic capacitor. The heat sink module is preferably composed of a material that has good thermal conductivity. Metals such as, for example, aluminum or copper particularly come into consideration. The heat sink module 1 can be manufactured by casting or by milling as well. In terms of its lateral dimensions, it corresponds to the dimensions of the component 2 fashioned as an electrolytic capacitor, whereby the capacitances lie between 100 μF and 10 mF given dimensions of approximately 10-20 mm. Accordingly, the cooling ribs have a spacing of about 2-3 mm from one another. The component 2 can, for example, comprise an outside sheath of metal, particularly aluminum. In electrolytic capacitors, these outside sheaths are usually electrically conductively connected to the cathode, so that it is of critical significance that the component 2 be electrically insulated from the heat sink module 1 in order to prevent a short between a plurality of components 2. Such an electrical insulation is formed, for example, by a thin plastic layer that can be composed of PVC and is applied on the outside sheath of the component 2. Further, the underside of the component can be connected to the heat sink module 2 with an electrically insulating adhesive. An adhesive that comprises fillers such as glass or ceramic particularly comes into consideration as electrically insulating adhesive.

[0023]FIG. 2 shows a heat sink module 1 that comprises a depression 6 for the acceptance of a component. Further, the heat sink module 1 comprises projections 4 fashioned as pegs and recesses 5 implemented as bores that are complementary thereto. Since the projections 4 on the lower edge of the heat sink module 1 have a greater spacing than on the right-hand edge of the heat sink module 1, only a single orientation is possible when joining a plurality of identical heat sink modules 1 together. A second heat sink module 1 that is implemented according to FIG. 2 could only have its left-hand edge attached flush to the right-had edge of the heat sink module shown in FIG. 1.

[0024]FIG. 3A shows a heat sink module 1 with cooling ribs. It comprises a projection 4 fashioned as a dovetail spring.

[0025] As proceeds from FIG. 3B, it also comprises a recess 5 at that side lying opposite the projection 4 that is complementary thereto, said recess 5 being fashioned as a channel. As proceeds from FIG. 3B and from FIG. 3C, the heat sink module 1 also comprises dovetail-shaped projections 4 at the two other opposite sides that proceed transverse relative to the side edges of the ground plan of the heat sink module 1 and comprises recesses 4 that are complementary with said projections 4. With the assistance of the projection 4 and recess 5 implemented as channel and spring, the heat sink module 1 can be joined to another heat sink module by pushing these together in the plane. The dovetail-like fashioning of the springs prevents the two heat sink modules from being simply pulled apart and thus contributes to the stabilization of the arrangement formed by the two heat sink modules. The projections 4 or, respectively, recesses 5 proceeding perpendicular to the edges of the ground plan of the heat sink module 1 thus enable the heat sink module 1 to be joined with a further heat sink module 2 by being moved perpendicular to the plane of the heat sink module, whereby the dovetail-like fashioning of the projections 4 or, respectively, recesses prevents the heat sink modules from being simply pulled apart in the plane.

[0026]FIG. 4 shows an arrangement of a plurality of identical heat sink modules 1. A component 2 is arranged on each heat sink module 1, whereby the components 2 are identical to one another. The components 2 respectively comprise a first terminal element 7 and a second terminal element 8 that are conducted upwardly out of the component at that side of the component 2 facing away from the heat sink module 1. Due to the projections and recesses (not shown in FIG. 4) of the heat sink modules 1 that prescribe an unambiguous orientation, the components 2 can have their terminal elements 7, 8 unambiguously oriented relative to the heat sink modules (1). The inventive implementation of the surface structures of the heat sink modules (1) leads thereto that a heat sink module (1) can be joined to another heat sink module (1) in only a single orientation, as a result whereof the identical orientation of the components 2 on the heat sink modules 1 is preserved. As a result thereof, it is possible to interconnect a plurality of components 2 to form component banks, whereby the terminal elements 7, 8 are all identically oriented, this greatly simplifying the electrical contacting of the components 2. The heat sink modules 1 interconnected to form an arrangement of heat sink modules are held together by a frame 9 that enhances the mechanical strength of the arrangement of heat sink modules and prevents the individual heat sink modules (1) from coming apart.

[0027] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown by way of example but is defined in its broadest form by claim 1. 

1. Plate-like heat sink module (1) with polygonal ground plan at whose upper side a heat generating component (2) can be secured and whose underside comprises cooling ribs (3), the outside edges thereof comprising surface structures complementary with one another and with whose assistance a plurality of identical heat sink modules (1) can be joined checkerboard-like in one plane, whereby the surface structures are fashioned such that a heat sink module (1) can be joined to another heat sink module (1) in only one orientation.
 2. Heat sink module according to claim 1 that comprises a quadratic ground plan.
 3. Heat sink module according to claim 1 or 2, whereby the surface structures are formed by projections (4) and recesses (5) complementary thereto.
 4. Heat sink module according to claim 3, whereby the recesses (5) are blind holes proceeding in the plane and the projections (4) are round pegs.
 5. Heat sink module according to claim 3, whereby the recesses (5) are channels and the projections (4) are springs.
 6. Heat sink module according to claim 5, whereby the projections (4) are dovetail-shaped springs.
 7. Heat sink module according to claim 1 through 6 whose upper side comprises a depression (6) accepting the component (2).
 8. Heat sink module according to claim 7, whereby the component (2) is glued into the depression (6) in electrically insulating fashion.
 9. Heat sink module according to claim 1 through 8 on whose upper side an electrolytic capacitor is secured.
 10. Arrangement of heat sink modules according to claim 1 through 9, whereby the same component (2) comprising terminal elements (7, 8) ios secured in each heat sink module (1), whereby all components (2) have their terminal elements (7, 8) identically aligned relative to the surface structure of the respective heat sink module (1), and whereby the heat sink modules (1) are joined to one another, forming a continuous plate.
 11. Arrangement according to claim 10, whereby the heat sink modules (10 are held together by a frame (9). 